FW: [se-drm] URGENT-Reply by 15 December 2009. Strengthening Sphere' Inter Agency Coordination and Unified Response Strategy- Advice, Experience

[Vik]

 

 

From: Vikrant Mahajan [mailto:v...@sphereindia.org.in]
Sent: 10 December 2009 17:09
To: 'Disaster Management Community'
Subject: [se-drm] URGENT-Reply by 15 December 2009. Strengthening Sphere' Inter Agency Coordination and Unified Response Strategy- Advice, Experience

 

Moderators Note: Sphere India, with active support of UNDP, UNICEF and NDMA, has been supporting Inter Agency Humanitarian coordination in some of the states in India. Sphere India has launched an exercise to capture the learning from the working of the interagency platforms that were involved in handling some of the emergencies in the states. The purpose of this exercise is to identify issues that need to be addressed collectively to make such platform robust and efficient. Disaster Management Community (supported by UNDP) and Sphere India Unified Response Strategy google group are jointly facilitating the process of getting inputs from Disaster Management Practitioners in India.

 

We encourage you to actively participate in the query! Thanks

---

 

Dear Members,

 

The analysis and evaluations of the response of some of the recent disasters in India and elsewhere has highlighted the need of improved coordination between different actors. In absence of clear policies, institutional capacities and processes, initiatives like Orissa Disaster Mitigation Mission (for Orissa Super Cyclone), Abhiyaan (for Gujarat Earthquake) and Tamilnadu Tsunami Resource Centre (for Tsunami) emerged during disaster times. These early experiences provided the learning and inspiration for Sphere India Unified Response Strategy (URS) to build capacities on humanitarian coordination in the vulnerable states in India as a pilot and then replicate to other states. The focus of the URS was to develop common understanding for coordination during immediate response.

 

Sphere India URS led to reactivation/strengthening/creation of Inter Agency groups in different states that started filling in the institutional gaps and brought in the much desired continuity in Humanitarian coordination in India. This has been a mix of success and challenges which led to increased understanding of the URS coordination processes (Common Assessment, Joint/Collaborative Strategies, Common Response Planning and action, Common Monitoring and Evaluation) and IAG institutionalisation in 12 of the most vulnerable states in India. However, a lot is desired to be achieved for Inter Agency Humanitarian Coordination to optimise the quality of our collective response and our collective accountability to the affected community we are committed to serve.

 

Towards all this we request members of the Disaster Management Community to:

 

·         Suggest main components for an all-encompassing policy framework that can ensure effective functioning of Inter Agency Humanitarian Coordination in India;

·         Share limitations and challenges faced by State level Inter Agency Groups or of working with Inter Agency Groups and;

·         Provide suggestions and new innovation ideas for improving the Current URS Processes (Common Assessments, Collaborative Strategies, Common Response planning and action, Common Monitoring and Evaluation) and working of State level IAGs.

 

Your responses will help us devising better coordination processes and thus better emergency management at all levels.

 

Regards

 

Vikrant Mahajan

Sphere India

New Delhi

[Mangneo Lhungdim]

Dear Vikrant, please find my comments as highlighted below;

Suggest main components for an all-encompassing policy framework that can ensure effective functioning of Inter Agency Humanitarian Coordination in India;

Limiting my comments to our experience in Assam since 2004 onwards, I would strongly suggest the IAG coordination & membership to go beyond  the short period active coordination during EMERGENCIES. IAG should be widen to incorporate all other interventions and NOT limiting to only Natural DISASTERS. Membership entry in IAG also needs to be made more formal with membership fees, annual subscriptions etc. IAG that crossed 5 years would also consider legalizing as entity and not remain as an informal coordination ONLY during emergency. 

Each SDMA/NDMA local units should have basic budget allocated for IAG coordination 24X7 besides their mandatory participation as equal partner/member. Govt (State) should nominate a point person for IAG. Also SDMA/NDMA and UNDP sitreps/MIS do not acknowledge the existence of IAG which is a concern.

For Assam - our activities and scope is not limited to Assam state as we also coordinate for situations across NE region. And thus, there will be need for strengthening district/State IAGs in vulnerable states and districts. 

·         Share limitations and challenges faced by State level Inter Agency Groups or of working with Inter Agency Groups and;

IAG coordination in Assam has always been on rotation and voluntary initiative of few agencies having DM/DRR as a priority focus. Without any additional resources coordination cost and sustaining the IAG coordination on a regular basis remains a challenge. Professional & efficient support team backing is lacking for IAG to function timely and effectively, especially during crisis situations. 

There is no proactive coordination from SDMA/NDMA etc. and fact of the matter is today IAG Assam has no Govt participation at any level (district, State etc.)

·         Provide suggestions and new innovation ideas for improving the Current URS Processes (Common Assessments, Collaborative Strategies, Common Response planning and action, Common Monitoring and Evaluation) and working of State level IAGs.

Common assessments has been tried out successfully in Assam and where this was not tenable atleast IAG members shared their assessment to all members. To an extent even common targeting & re-targeting and strategies have been effectively made from IAG coordination/meetings/sharing of information.

Common monitoring and evaluation is what remains to be experienced. 

Also there is no sharing or linkage between IAG-Assam with other states IAGs.

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[mayank joshi]

Dear Vikrant,
Hope this finds you well.
Attached is input for the discussion. Hope it will be useful.

1.     Components for an all-encompassing policy framework

 

a.     Principles

Primarily the character of IAG initiative should be neutral, autonomous and should uphold all the principles of “humanitarian entity”. Implication is that the initiative does not necessarily require approval/ sanction of the state.

 

 

b.    Approach

The IAG initiative must follow the “inclusive” approach. However, this can not be at the cost of compromising on the basic principles. Those who do not follow/ respect the principles of “humanitarianism” have no place in such forum. Membership is not based on the authority or money power.

 

c.     Strategy

The over all strategy could be to coordinate/ collaborate with all possible stakeholders.

 

d.    Institutional

• The state level members will have to decide what “institutional arrangement” they wish to have: an informal group/ network or a registered organization? Both have advantages and limitations.
• Sphere India will have to decide “what kind of association” it wants to have with the state level initiative? Major decision is: Sphere India being the “facilitator” vs. being the “implementer”. What support it can offer to the IAGs at the state level other than developing “guidelines” and standardizing the formats.
• Lastly, there is a need to visualize a design through which the IAGs emerge as a collective at the national level. This could be through support of Sphere India or an alternative arrangement that could evolve over a period of time.

 

2.     Limitations and Challenges 

1. Availability of people, with adequate understanding, abilities and commitment, to work for a forum like IAG is a limiting factor.
2. Sustaining interest among the stakeholders (other than those directly supporting) is yet another limitation.
3. Acting up on matters related with “disaster” during “non- disaster period” is not a priority for most of the government officials and also for the functionaries of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
4. It is a challenge to design/ develop the developmental projects that have integrated components of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Those who are in-charge of the projects (infrastructure or social development) do not take in to account the “disaster” components seriously. What is normally carried out is Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as a formality.
5. Initiating and sustaining debate is yet another challenge. Perhaps as a society we tend to be more prescriptive, try to find solutions immediately and hence scope for innovation gets reduced! Many of us have no experience of working with mass media to take the debate in the public domain.
6. Uncertainty about availability of financial resources is also a factor that (partly) limits the over all growth of initiatives like IAG.

 

3.     Suggestions and Ideas

a.     There is a need to consolidate the working of state IAGs and develop a common agenda. The proposed workshop (17- 18 Dec. 2009) could be a beginning for it. An IAG Consortium Plan can be developed and resources can be mobilized jointly. Resources are plenty when the disaster strikes and it is not available otherwise.

b.    The activities of IAGs have to culminate in to collective output/s (policy analysis, case studies, identification of agenda for policy advocacy, etc).

c.     Use of two terms- URS and IAG- is confusing for those who are not part of the process. Can we resolve it during the workshop?

d.    Sphere India to have only one point person to communicate on matters related with IAG. This will ensure continuity and consistency.

e.  Sphere India should avoid activities that IAGs can carry out

With best wishes,

 

 

Mayank Joshi

For IAG, Gujarat

--

[Zubin Zaman]

Dear vikrant,

 

A couple of points to improve coordination in humanitarian response. In response to your request a few thoughts of what and the hows of it.

 

Suggest main components for an all-encompassing policy framework that can ensure effective functioning of Inter Agency Humanitarian Coordination in India;

A basic user friendly framework can be developed by some of the key humanitarian players. A core group can take this process forward. Important to have a time frame attached to it. It should be underpinned by the fact that majority of humanitarian agencies carry out their own assessments and have their own ways of working.  

Share limitations and challenges faced by State level Inter Agency Groups or of working with Inter Agency Groups and;

 

Provide suggestions and new innovation ideas for improving the Current URS Processes (Common Assessments, Collaborative Strategies, Common Response planning and action, Common Monitoring and Evaluation) and working of State level IAGs.

 

The assessments can point out the key headlines in context to a disaster. 

Agencies working on specific specialism can come togather seperately.

Support humanitarian agencies with geographical information.

Quick access of data from the govt on affected area and data sharing with agencies.

Faciliate national level meet on a specific disaster (real time event) for advocacy purposes.  

 

with regards

Zubin Zaman
Humanitarian Response Manager,
Emergency Response & Disaster Risk Reduction,
Oxfam

Plot 1, Community Centre, 2nd Floor
(Above Sujan Mohinder Hospital)
New Friends Colony
New Delhi - 110 065, India
Tel + 91(0) 11 4653 8000 Ext 125
Fax +91(0) 11 4653 8099

Website: www.oxfamindia.org

Cell  0 + 9810017706
email zu...@oxfamindia.org
Alt email: zubin...@gmail.com

Skype: zubin.zaman

-----spher...@googlegroups.com wrote: -----

To: <Spher...@googlegroups.com>
From: "Vik" <v...@ecreati.org>
Sent by: spher...@googlegroups.com
Date: 12/14/2009 11:03AM
Subject: FW: [se-drm] URGENT-Reply by 15 December 2009. Strengthening Sphere' Inter Agency Coordination and Unified Response Strategy- Advice, Experience

 

 

From: Vikrant Mahajan [mailto:v...@sphereindia.org.in]
Sent: 10 December 2009 17:09
To: 'Disaster Management Community'
Subject: [se-drm] URGENT-Reply by 15 December 2009. Strengthening Sphere' Inter Agency Coordination and Unified Response Strategy- Advice, Experience

 

Moderators Note: Sphere India, with active support of UNDP, UNICEF and NDMA, has been supporting Inter Agency Humanitarian coordination in some of the states in India. Sphere India has launched an exercise to capture the learning from the working of the interagency platforms that were involved in handling some of the emergencies in the states. The purpose of this exercise is to identify issues that need to be addressed collectively to make such platform robust and efficient. Disaster Management Community (supported by UNDP) and Sphere India Unified Response Strategy google group are jointly facilitating the process of getting inputs from Disaster Management Practitioners in India.

 

We encourage you to actively participate in the query! Thanks

---

 

Dear Members,

 

The analysis and evaluations of the response of some of the recent disasters in India and elsewhere has highlighted the need of improved coordination between different actors. In absence of clear policies, institutional capacities and processes, initiatives like Orissa Disaster Mitigation Mission ( for Orissa Super Cyclone), Abhiyaan (for Gujarat Earthquake) and Tamilnadu Tsunami Resource Centre (for Tsunami) emerged during disaster times. These early experiences provided the learning and inspiration for Sphere India Unified Response Strategy (URS) to build capacities on humanitarian coordination in the vulnerable states in India as a pilot and then replicate to other states. The focus of the URS was to develop common understanding for coordination during immediate response.

 

Sphere India URS led to reactivation/strengthening/creation of Inter Agency groups in different states that started filling in the institutional gaps and brought in the much desired continuity in Humanitarian coordination in India. This has been a mix of success and challenges which led to increased understanding of the URS coordination processes (Common Assessment, Joint/Collaborative Strategies, Common Response Planning and action, Common Monitoring and Evaluation) and IAG institutionalisation in 12 of the most vulnerable states in India. However, a lot is desired to be achieved for Inter Agency Humanitarian Coordination to optimise the quality of our collective response and our collective accountability to the affected community we are committed to serve.

 

Towards all this we request members of the Disaster Management Community to:

 

·          Suggest main components for an all-encompassing policy framework that can ensure effective functioning of Inter Agency Humanitarian Coordination in India;

·          Share limitations and challenges faced by State level Inter Agency Groups or of working with Inter Agency Groups and;

·          Provide suggestions and new innovation ideas for improving the Current URS Processes (Common Assessments, Collaborative Strategies, Common Response planning and action, Common Monitoring and Evaluation) and working of State level IAGs.

 

Your responses will help us devising better coordination processes and thus better emergency management at all levels.

 

Regards

 

Vikrant Mahajan

Sphere India

New Delhi

[Enakshi]

Dear Members,

 

Drawing form the experience and inputs that have been derived during the last few years of IAG Assam has been very encouraging. The spirit of SPHERE of collaboration has been very well demonstrated by the members of the Assam IAG during emergencies. However, there have been challenges as listed below.

 

In terms of institutionalisation I think SPHERE is to be a non partisan non regulatory coordination and facilitation platform that promotes the standards and brings together organisation who stand by it. As such the need to institutionalise and make it as a separate entity might dilute the ownership and commitment of promotion by all agencies.

 

Some suggestion on the points raised would be:

 

·         components for an all-encompassing policy framework:

1.       Widen Enrolment and commitment of agencies to the Handbook and its principles.

2.       Educate on the standards. There should be year long calendar for programs on the various standards.

3.       Coordination between the GO- NGO

4.        Ready reference on organisation strengths and capacities.

5.       Area mapping

6.       Timelines and history of disaster with statistics area wise

 

·         limitations and challenges;

1.       Less Participation of Government machinery

2.       Expanding enrolment and the commitment from organisations

3.       Regularity of participation of members

 

·         suggestions and new innovation ideas for improving the Current URS Processes and working of State level IAGs.

1.       SPHERE India to promote IAG and SDMA interface through NDMA

2.       Informative and interactive website for getting and sharing information

3.       IAG secretariat could be hosted by agencies placed in the state on rotation

4.       Small resource for functioning of the secretariat could be allocated by SPHERE India from the resources contributed from different donors. This could be fixed budget for all state IAG.

5.       Regular training programs planned for each state at state level supported by SPHERE India similar to point above.

 

Regards

Enakshi Dutta

N E State Representative

Catholic Relief Services India Program

(0361) 2227723/24, 9435116324

ena...@crsguwahati.org

 

 

---

--

[Meenakshi Thorat]

Dear Vikrant and Colleagues,

 

Though I had thought of responding with much concentration and some more time, I am putting forth my random thoughts and observations on  strengthening/creation of Inter Agency groups, since we are only a day away from the slated Workshop. Major portion of my note is in the backdrop of Maharashtra as a State wherein IAG is yet to be formed.

 

1.     Slow disasters get visibly side tract.  Climate change on the whole and in particular flash floods or droughts has seeped into the yearly seasonal calendar of each geographic zone. In particular context of Maharashtra, droughts along with suicides have been dominating our newspapers especially at the time when seeds sown by the farmers require water and moisture in the air for sustainous and growth.  In the rut of responding to fast/visible emergencies, these slow disasters take a back seat. 

 

2.     Maharashtra has been holding the flag of leading the country in Industralisation for over many decades. Behind this great success lay vast acres of agriculture land which over the years has been acquired by the MIDC(Maharashtra Industrial Development  Corporation) for industrialisation purposes.  The other side of the coin highlights the harsh  fact of diminishing land under agriculture. This can be understood in the two different perspectives.

a)    Availability of lesser and lesser land under agriculture due to land acquisition by man for non-agriculture purposes. Leading to questions of food security as well as occupations to the large human population.

b)    As an evident impact of climate change, the rainfall is erratic leading to long span of no rain during the sowing season or flash floods. This leading to crop loss.

 

3.     Due to the above mentioned two vital points the humanity has already entered the vicious cycle of food insecurity and adverse impact of climate change, both leading towards slow disasters.

 

4.     Limitations faced towards the formation of  Inter agency Group in Maharashtra

a)    The humanitarian agencies have not yet collectively realised the dangers of the above stated facts and factors. This may be the possible reasons which has kept them from joining hands.

b)    Similarly, the agencies have not yet realised the strength in a joint response to any (fast) disaster either.

 

5.     The visible challenges faced by the possibility of formation of  Inter Agency Group in Maharashtra

a)    No agency wants to take the lead.

b)    The local NGO are largely unaware of the process of IAG and the strength of collaborating together for intervention.

c)     The agencies --- NGO, INGO and GO are unaware of the processes to be followed for collaborative intervention and the organisational structure of the IAG.

d)    Lack of ideas on how to pool the funds and if need be to support a staff totally dedicated to the working of this Group.

 

6.     The visible challenges faced by the Inter Agency Group in general(from my experiences while working with Sphere India on the process of formation and strengthening of IAG in few North and eastern States)

a)    Sometimes, bigger INGOs or older NGO are keen to hold the baton of IAG as a matter of right; least realising that humanitarian sector should strive to be devoid of such materialistic struggles.

b)    Same as in point 5. b), c) and d).

 

7.     Suggestions and new innovative ideas – (beyond the URS and other which are presently followed)

a)    Regular sharing of updates of their own projects and lessons learnt since they would be referring to the same geographical region

b)    Willingness to share ones expertise as and when need arises for a more collaborative intervention.

c)     Besides being focussed on issues generated from the ‘Capital city’, responding to local situations and small scale disasters and the hazards, which largely go unnoticed.

 

We need to be Globally competent as well as locally rooted hence local issues are not meant to be discarded. They have to be brought out in the right perspective.

 

 

With regards,

 

Meenakshi

 

 

Dr Meenakshi Thorat

Pune

Mobile +91 98231 99365

 

 

 

 

From: Vik [mailto:v...@sphereindia.org.in]
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 11:45 AM
To: IAG_list
Cc: 'Sarat Panda'; 'Vikas Gora'; 'Nupur Arora'
Subject: FW: [se-drm] URGENT-Reply by 15 December 2009. Strengthening Sphere' Inter Agency Coordination and Unified Response Strategy- Advice, Experience

 

Dear Colleagues (Convenors/Coordinator of IAGs),

 

May I request your attention to the query posted on UN Solution exchange and Sphere URS google group.

 

It will be really good if all state representations  can come prepared in lessons learnt workshop with their suggestions and views on the questions raised in this query. This will help all of us to have more focussed discussions and make best use of the collective time during the workshop. So may I request all of you to post your state IAG positioning as well as individual organisation or individual views on this query. My Colleague, Sarat will coordinate and follow up with you in case you need any help.

 

This query and workshop is a part of the larger Campaign on Inter Agency Coordination in India. Sarat will also share the dates of some key events  with you. Kindly disseminate widely in your state level groups and encourage members to respond to it. We really value your suggestions

 

With best regards

 

Vikrant

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[Human Welfare Voluntary Organisation]

 

dear colleagues,

 

i feel that their is dire of need of having regular and effective follow up of the state IAGs till they start functioning of its own and the sustainability of the same is the key question,

what will keep the IAG motivation get going.

who will decide about if the IAG not doing its bit as expected or required- i mean some yard stick and time frame needs to be put in place to have things done in such places where the coordination and alliances is a new concept.

 

also i feel their is need of developing the human resourses by way of building the capacity in each of the state of the country to have more effective and efficient systems for coordinationa nd cooperation in place.

A more all inclusive approach needs to be incorporated with which the more and more local grass root level ngos need to be taken into the state IAG so that their capacities, vision and perspectives are broaden- we have to think of these local voluntary groups to inculcate the coordination, alliance and cooperation so that they function on the principles of working together to complement each other in present and future which is going to be an achievement for future too.

 

with regards 

Feroze Ahmed 

Human Welfare Volunatry Organisation

www.hwvokashmir.wordpress.com

Kashmir

+919419017680

 

 

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Social Activist/Practioner  
HWVO(Human Welfare Voluntary Organisation)
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Mob: +919419017680,
email: ferozk...@gmail.com
Skype : ferozewani
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Member  LIFE HELP TASK FORCE KASHMIR UNIT.

[Mrinal Gohain]

Sorry. Didn't sign off in the earlier mail

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mrinal Gohain <mrinal...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Subject: Re: FW: [se-drm] URGENT-Reply by 15 December 2009. Strengthening Sphere' Inter Agency Coordination and Unified Response Strategy- Advice, Experience
To: Vik <v...@ecreati.org>
Cc: Spher...@googlegroups.com


Dear Vikrant,

Greetings from Guwahati!

Truly appreciate this effort. I notice that most of my points have been articulated by others. However, may I request you to please consider these random thoughts-

1. A policy framework has to acknowledge the space that Civil Society must have in responding to humanitarian crisis, as critical stakeholders, without seeking to define(and thereby confine) roles. This space is very critical and must be retained, for there are occasions when it is perceived that this space is threatened, and if we do not engage, there is always the possibility of it being eroded, to the detriment of our rights and perhaps the quality of response.

2. An awareness of regions (geographic, political) should enter the framework, as it would enhance contextual analysis and therefore preparedness based on events on the ground.

Best wishes,

Mrinal Gohain,

Regional Manager,

Guwahati Regional Office,

ActionAid India.

On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 11:03 AM, Vik <v...@ecreati.org> wrote:

--

[JP Sahayam]

Dear Vik,   Just forwardin some challenges and suggestions, some are based on Tamilnadu and some are based on AP & Karnataka Floods. Suggestions are common for both   CHALLENGES   Clarity on the role of IAG as agency tend to take it as a coordination unit with focus on Capacity Building or addressing issues. The importance of the role of IAG in Emergency intervention and assessment should be well oriented.   The Role of Agencies/consultants not well oriented on quality and accountability issues in emergency response taking trying to play a prominent role in the IAG.   During emergencies calling for meeting at state capitals rather than field areas pose threat to participation of agencies involved in the response.  This would lead to the domination of INGOs and big NGOs only.   GO – NGO co-ordination seems to be very poor. NGOs normally tend to co-ordinate with the district administration only. Co-ordination with agencies at the Mandal level or Taluk level seems to be very much missing which neglects the role of the grass-root level NGOs.   The process of giving letter to the Collector or Thasildhar and claiming the same as a right for response in a particular village raises doubt about the very essence of coordination.   Grass root level agencies working in same place or the agencies who have been supporting them cannot be asked to move out of the village as they are mandated to work there.  Moreover some agencies by virtue of their mandate would be involved in rescue or feeding.  If giving letter to government mechanism is a priority for coordination the stress on Sphere Standards of saving life loses value.   Hence the process becomes a “Co-ordinated Competition”.Co-ordination should take in the concerns of local context, where Mandal level or Taluk level co-ordination should be emphasized.     INNOVATIVE IDEAS FOR URS   As URS involves assessment, action plan and developing strategies in relation with these aspects in the present context quality and accountability matters a lot.  It is very much important that implementing agencies should be on the helm of the affairs.  Here the primary concern should also enhance the capacity of implementing agencies be it INGOs or NGOs.  Response mechanisms are based on standards and to what extent the standards reach to the field level need to be reviewed.  Orientation to the various formats to the field level form a vital part to get substantial information from the field which leads to effective coordination.     Sphere project, Geneva and Sphere India are involved in organizing workshops/ training programmes/ TOT programmes.  To what extent these training reach the field needs to be looked at.  A mechanism needs to be developed to ensure that they reach the field.  A clear line of communication from Sphere India to the IAGs should be in place.   There are some global and national trainers on Sphere standards and other quality and accountability subject in India.  These people should meet atleast once in a year to look at the emerging issues, develop training packages pertaining to the context and which should also ensure follow up mechanism for the participants.   There could be different tiers TOT programmes. Once a person completes a ToT in a lower level tier programme an assignment should be given for follow up, only if these assignments are completed a the person may be shifted recommended to the next level of ToT.   This process will develop the follow up mechanism and also will enable to strengthen the training and implementation mechanism.  Moreover people who are genuinely interested in these mechanisms would continue in the process. The networking and co-ordination among agencies also increase once the trainers are utilized by the other NGOs.   As quality and accountability involves implementation the implementing stress should be given for the implementing agencies in this process.  Consultants who do not have substantial implementing experience should not be considered as trainers.  Stress should for implementers to develop as trainers. The trainers being developed should have a role in the URS and identified based on strategic locations. Regards   joseph p sahayam   Facilitator, IAG Tamilnadu   --- On Mon, 12/14/09, Vik <v...@ecreati.org> wrote:

Dear Members,

Regards   Vikrant Mahajan Sphere India New Delhi

[v s gurumani]

Vikrant, 

Please see my responses embedded in your mail.  

Thank you for this opportunity!

Thanks, 

Guru

On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 11:03 AM, Vik <v...@ecreati.org> wrote:

 

 

From: Vikrant Mahajan [mailto:v...@sphereindia.org.in]
Sent: 10 December 2009 17:09
To: 'Disaster Management Community'
Subject: [se-drm] URGENT-Reply by 15 December 2009. Strengthening Sphere' Inter Agency Coordination and Unified Response Strategy- Advice, Experience

 

Moderators Note: Sphere India, with active support of UNDP, UNICEF and NDMA, has been supporting Inter Agency Humanitarian coordination in some of the states in India. Sphere India has launched an exercise to capture the learning from the working of the interagency platforms that were involved in handling some of the emergencies in the states. The purpose of this exercise is to identify issues that need to be addressed collectively to make such platform robust and efficient. Disaster Management Community (supported by UNDP) and Sphere India Unified Response Strategy google group are jointly facilitating the process of getting inputs from Disaster Management Practitioners in India.

 

We encourage you to actively participate in the query! Thanks

---

 

Dear Members,

 

The analysis and evaluations of the response of some of the recent disasters in India and elsewhere has highlighted the need of improved coordination between different actors. In absence of clear policies, institutional capacities and processes, initiatives like Orissa Disaster Mitigation Mission (for Orissa Super Cyclone), Abhiyaan (for Gujarat Earthquake) and Tamilnadu Tsunami Resource Centre (for Tsunami) emerged during disaster times. These early experiences provided the learning and inspiration for Sphere India Unified Response Strategy (URS) to build capacities on humanitarian coordination in the vulnerable states in India as a pilot and then replicate to other states. The focus of the URS was to develop common understanding for coordination during immediate response.

 

Sphere India URS led to reactivation/strengthening/creation of Inter Agency groups in different states that started filling in the institutional gaps and brought in the much desired continuity in Humanitarian coordination in India. This has been a mix of success and challenges which led to increased understanding of the URS coordination processes (Common Assessment, Joint/Collaborative Strategies, Common Response Planning and action, Common Monitoring and Evaluation) and IAG institutionalisation in 12 of the most vulnerable states in India. However, a lot is desired to be achieved for Inter Agency Humanitarian Coordination to optimise the quality of our collective response and our collective accountability to the affected community we are committed to serve.

 

Towards all this we request members of the Disaster Management Community to:

 

·         Suggest main components for an all-encompassing policy framework that can ensure effective functioning of Inter Agency Humanitarian Coordination in India;  

 

Based on my own experience in disaster response in India, it would be good if we can first develop a common agenda for humanitarian response.  Depending on organizational context and competencies, the focus may be on relief, relief or risk reduction, or all three.  I believe it is necessary to map out the strategic framework of the members, before any all encompassing policy framework can be framed. Without working out the context, talking about the components may not result in their use in actual execution of work. 

·         Share limitations and challenges faced by State level Inter Agency Groups or of working with Inter Agency Groups and;  

 

These largely relate to the first point above:  How much of a priority is it for the HQ of each member organization that the IAG at the state level works well?  In the tsunami, one found that members found it a challenge to coordinate because the competition to spend money came in the way of avoiding duplication.  So, a key challenge may be what happens within the member organizations themselves.  The role for Sphere here could be to seek a one on one meeting with the heads of the INGOs/NGOs to facilitate setting coordination as a priority.

 

·         Provide suggestions and new innovation ideas for improving the Current URS Processes (Common Assessments, Collaborative Strategies, Common Response planning and action, Common Monitoring and Evaluation) and working of State level IAGs.

 

Is it possible to develop a common website which could help share information quickly, rather than wait for periodic IAG meetings?  How about using Google to develop a learning website?

 

Your responses will help us devising better coordination processes and thus better emergency management at all levels.

 

Regards

 

Vikrant Mahajan

Sphere India

New Delhi

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